Industrial elevating truck



y 27, 1952 M. LEHMANN 2,598,566

INDUSTRIAL ELEVATING TRUCK 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 8, 1949 FIG. 2 r11; 3

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY y 1952 M. LEHMANN 2,598,566

INDUSTRIAL ELEVATING TRUCK 6 I/VVZ/VTOA MA x LEHMANN.

y 27, 1952 M. LEHMANN 2,598,566

INDUSTRIAL ELEVATING TRUCK Filed Sept. 8, 1949 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. MAX LE HMANN.

A T TORNE Y May 27, 1952 M. LEHMANN INDUSTRIAL ELEVATING TRUCK 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 8, 1949 FIGJOa INVENTOR. MA X L'EHMANN '22. bl Vito INVENTOR. MAX LEHMANN 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 &

M. LEHMANN INDUSTRIAL ELEVATING TRUCK May 27, 1952 Filed Sept. 8, 1949 ATTORNEY May 27, 1952 M. LEHMANN 2,598,566

' INDUSTRIAL ELEVATING TRUCK Filed Sept. 8, 1949 e Sheets-Shet e INVENTOR. MA X-LEHMANN.

L l 9 III v 5 2% R I A 1 /a 1 m1 PM mm rraakzY Patented May 27, 1952 INDUSTRIAL 'ELEVATING TRUCK Max Lehmann, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to T e Baker-Remains Com any, Cl el nd Oh a corporation of Ohio Application September 8, 1949, Serial No. 114,560

8 C aims- '1 This invention relates to a truck of the elevating type for picking up loads at -floor and elevated levels, transporting them from place to place and stacking loads in a ready manner.

The truck is provided with relatively stationary main guides and extensible guides mounted to slide endwise in the main guides. Theextensible guides are preferably equal in len th 110 the main guides and when in their lowest or normal position, both guides extend to a predetermined height or level. In this arrangement the mean height of the guides does not exceed the lowest overhead limit (for example, balconies, archways, op n n s, 10w c lin s, t a rs. ox ca s) withthe area where the truck is to be employed, and fluid pressure operated means are provided to (:w) initially raise the elevating member to and from the predetermined height or level endwise of and relative to the main and extensible guides while the latter are "in normal position and (b) simultaneously automatically move the extensible guides and elevating member upwardly when-the latter is to be raised to various levels above the predetermined height or level. Accordingly, it will be seen that a wide range of load handling operations may be carried out in loading or unloading freight box cars and in areas having low ceilings, as well as where the handling operations require the operation of the elevating member to higher levels.

In trucks of this type, of which I have ,knowledge, it has been the general practice to provide elements on the elevating member which would engage devices on the extensible guides or other mechanism incorporated and :connected to both the extensible guides and elevating member, whereby raising of the latter would also simultaneously effect movementof the-extensible :guides upwardly beyond the main guides. such trucks have -.a limited range of utility as they :could not be employed where low limit-overheadconditionsexisted. As already set forth, the :fiuid pressure operated means herein disclosed not only raises the elevating member a predetermined distance independentlyof the .guides that .-.is without movi g the -.extensible guides), but also serves to pick up and 'raise the extensi- --bl e guides when the elevating member is-raisedto a higher level. The means vfor raising the elevat- :ing member consist of relatively movable mem- *bers mounted between the base on which the main guides are supported and a cross member at the upper endscf theextensibleguides, but are co-operatively related to move the latter guides only when the elevating member .--is to he raised 2 beyond a predetermined lev.el. Furthermore, as later set forth, the fluid operated means for raising and lowering the elevating member to and from the predetermined level or levels therebelow and/or thereabove require only one con:- nection with the source of fluid supply under pres:

sure.

It follows that the form of construction is greatly simplified and readily controlledto in! sure rapidity of operation.

One object of the invention is to provide in an industrial truck having main guide members and extensible guide memberthereon and an elevating member movable endwise of the guide members, improved fluid pressure operated means associated with the guide members and opera-.- tivelyoonnected to the extensible guide members and elevating member to initially raise either the extensible uide members or the elevating memher a predetermined distance and thereafter raise the other member or member to a higher level.

Another object .of the invention is to provide in an industrial truck having fixed main guides and extensible guides and an elevating member movable endwise of the guides, mproved .fl-uid pressure operated means associated with the guides operatively connected to the extensible guides and elevating member to raise and lower the latter independently of the guide or raise both the extensible guides and the elevate ing member dependent on the level to which the elevatingmember is to be raised.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved {fluid pressure operated means for raising the elevating member on an industrial truck consisting of a plurality of concentrically related members movable upwardly and downwardly and respectively connected to the extensible guides and levating member for .cc-ordinated -relative movement to initially raise the elevatingmember relative to the extensible guides and thereafter raise thezextensible guides, whereby the load earrier may be operated to meet various overhead :conditions.

Another ).]Qject of the invention is to provide improved fluid pressure operated mean for-open.- rating the elevating member on an industrial truck, consisting of relatively movable, telescopi .cally ,d'elated elements, one of whichis connected to thelextensi e uid sto b e 1(a tcra seand :1 er the elevating member to various levels within a predetermined height while the extensible guides remain stationary in their lowest or normalpositionand .(b) to raise .both theextenz ibIe :eu'id s nd elevating member to and jrom levels above the predetermined level, whereby a wide range of load handling operations may be efficiently and rapidly carried out.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an industrial truck having fixed main guides and extensible guides and an elevating member slidably mounted on and movable endwise of the extensible guides, improved fluid pressure operated means associated with the guides and operatively connected to the extensible guides and elevating member and arranged to initially raise the elevating member along and relative to the extensible guides to a predetermined height or level and thereafter raise the extensible guides relative to the main guides to position the elevating member at selected levels above the predetermined height or level.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved fluid pressure operated means for raising the elevating member of an industrial truck,

of simplified and readily controlled construction.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a truck, shown somewhat diagrammatically, embodying my invention, the elevating member being shown in an elevated position; I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the elevating member being shown in its lowest position;

' Fig. 2a is a fragmentary elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the extensible guides raised to the limit of their upward movement and the elevating member positioned at the upper end of the extensible guides;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, enlarged; the elevating member being shown at its lowest position and parts being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation looking toward the left of Fig. 4. parts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a 'section'on the line 6 s of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of Figs. 5 and 6; taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section on the line '88 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6, but

:Showing the elevating member raised to the predetermined height or level;

Figs. 10 and 10a together show the extensible guides raised to their uppermost position and the elevating member raised to the upper ends of the extensible guides;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of the fluid pressure operating mechanism, partly in section on the line I I--I I of Fig. 12;

Fig. 11a is a view similar to Fig. 11, but showing the fluid operated members in their extended position.

Fig. 111) is a section on the line I Ib-Ilbof Fig. 11.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are sections on thelines I2-I2, I3-I3 and I4--I4, respectively, of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view showing a modification.

In the drawings, I indicates as an entirety a truck mounted on power driven and steerable wheels Ia. and provided with spaced main guides 2 and extensible guides 2a, telescopically related to the main guides '2. The guides 2, 2a, are

lines in Fig. 2) by a suitable mechanism indicated the guides 2 (see Figs. 1, 5 and 10).

as an entirety at 3 and connected to the guides 2 by an angle 3a. The tilting mechanism forms no part of the present invention, for which reason it is not illustrated in detail. The main guides 2 are provided on their outer sides with plates 2b, which extend inwardly and are pivotally supported on the truck frame in any desired manner. The lower ends of the guides 2 are fixed to a base 4 and connected together at their upper ends by a cross member 4a having support at its opposite ends in brackets 5 extending inwardly from the guides 2. The extensible guides 2a slidably engage the guides 2 (see Fig. 8) formovement endwise thereof and are con nected together at their upper ends by a pair of related angles 5, which are cut away as shown at 511 (Fig. '7) to accommodate parts of the elevating member, indicated as an entirety at 6, when the latter is raised as later set forth.

The elevating member 6 consists of the following: Ba indicates a pair of upper and lower v cross plates having rearwardly extending members 61). Each member 6b supports upper and lower stud shafts on which are mounted rollers 'I having rolling engagement with inner sides of the extensible guides 2a, as later set forth. The cross plates 6a support a frame consisting of side plates 60 connected at their upper ends by a bar 13d and a rod 66 supported at its opposite ends by the side plates 60. The elevating member 6 supports a load carrier 8, shown for illustrative purposes as consisting of a pair of forks the upright legs 8a of which are adjustably mounted on the rod lie for movement toward or from each other.

Th fluid pressure operated means consist of the following: 9 indicates a member mounted at its lower end on the base 4 and extends upwardly therefrom to approximately the height of The member 9 is axially related to and slidably supports a plurality of telescopically related, relatively movable piston-cylinder couples (later referred to). The member 9 is preferably hollow to form a passage for the fluid leading to one of the cylinders, as later set forth, to simplify the construction. The member 9 is formed adjacent its lower end with a diametrical through opening 9a to accommodate a pivot pin 9b, the opposite ends of which are supported in a pair of plates suitably welded to the base 4. Above the opening 9a the member 9 is formed with a screw threaded inlet opening 9d in which the outer end of a supply pipe I0 is mounted. The supply pipe leads from a source of supply of fluid under pressur (such as oil) consisting of a pump operated by a suitable motor the intake of which is connected with a sump (not shown), the motor II being controlled by a lever mechanism I la, having fluid connections I I1), I I0 and a, suitable valve Ila operated by a lever I2, controls the supply of fluid to and through the pipe II]. The pump, sump and valve II a and the fluid connections therefor are mounted in a housing Ix. The pump and sump are of well known construction, for

which reasons illustrations of these parts are omitted. The valve mechanism I Ia consists of a casing (se Fig. 2a) having an inlet IIc leading from the pump, an outlet I Ib leading to the sump and a connection with the supply pipe Ill. The upper end of the hollow member 9 is open and adjacent its upper end the member 9 is provided with upper and lower rings I3, I3a (see Fig. 11). The upper ring I3 forms a guide or spacer, as will later be apparent. The sidewall of the ring I3 is provided with longitudinally extending 5 g'ieoves 13'' {see me. no) to ermit fluid fi'ow past the ring for a purpose later set foitn. The ring 13a serves as a stop as tater set forth. Beow and adjacent the ring We the member 9 is formed with a through opening 9e pi'ovidin'g'. a fluid outlet {T017171 the now conduit 8dr which extends from the inlet 9d through the member 9; H, T5 and I 6 hidicateiespeotiveiy; inner, outer and intermediate eyl-ihdr iee'l members, the outer member 45 being 'prb'viiied ex tei-iorly and intermediate its ends withenehor's 1 1 (see Figste, =6, 12 and 13) to which rtfaferenzx'e wi-i-l later be made, upper end or the inner member is olosezi by an end wall Ha, having it bleeder duct l4 closed by -a plug II. The wait it is engegement with the hn'glh 5 and t'h roi-ieh the letter it operates "to raise the extensible guides 2a when tneinneimember N is operated upwardiy. The lower end or theinner member li is ii-xedly connected to annulus "a" wit-ion is ihte rah'y provided at its outer end with a ring 14b having screw threaded connection with the iewer end or the outer member [5. [The inner wail of the annulus Md is provided with a hing "C slidably engages the member and 'eo 'operates with the ting It to provide an amine-r fluid space 4-32 between the member 9 and iimer member H. will inter appear, when the inner and outer members H, l5, me operated, the ring 14c en'- gages the King 13a, whereby the iatter limits the upward movement of the members It, '15. The lower end of the ennuius Ha" is provided with a. suitable glana r8. Intermediate ends, the W311 or the inner member is formed poi-ts He f'er a pur ose ia'ter to set forth. The

end of the outer member 1% is provided with a siiitable gland so and below the latter the inner wen ofithe member 15 is provided with "a ring 1% which 'slidablyenga ges the inner menther it and 'oo opere'tes "with ther'mg Mb to pro vide an annular fiififi spa-fie "Hid: between the members l5 and I6. Below the ring 1 5b, the outer member is -provided with a "sepa'fate ring 150 which serves as a stop, as later set forth.

The intermediate member 1 5 open at its iower em end engages the ring 1) when in its lowest oi normal position 't'see fi'ig. 11'). I "the outer won '01 the immediate men-flier Hi a'djacent its lower end is provided with a ring ltd, the side wall of Whioh is provided with grooves extending longi tjudifiahy reletive to the member Hi "(similarly to ring 13% or relieved at spaced points circumferentibil ly to perm-itfiuid flow from the space lua) between the members M and TS intothe'sfiaee "[532, or in the reverse direction. "The upper end of the intermediate member F6 xtends bey nd the fiibpe r end of the outer member l5 and is pro= Video. illfl'feflofly with an afim'ili member t5?) which e editable gland we is positioned. The outer end of the-'annuleti member {Hid is provided with an integral ooller wd-on which "is fixedly mounted a -crossh'ead 19. The cro'ss'h'ead fl! "is prov ioed with diametrically related stud 'sheifts t'ad disposed on axis parallel to a'n'd prefer-- ebiy in the ie-he of the hires or the i'ol lers 1, the shorts 19d mounting freely rbtatefble 'remng devices 2D, which are engaged by 'a -p'air of "flex'i-- ble mei h-ber's 20a, preferably consisting of 'ehetins. has show-ii in Figs. "5, 6, '8, 1'1 and 12, the moving devices ID (foin's'ist=rf Sprockets, but, if 'desir'eH, the devices 20 may have plain ioeriph'eral side wens as shown at 20.1: in Fig. 15, since thes'ide bars of each 01 the cha ns 20a oveflap the sides "of'the adjacent device We: to prevent displacement of thechains. It to be understood, "however, that the ifiVefitii-i is 2161; to be limited 3%) a oham $8 e in cable and suitable reev'ing elements the? ion onid employed when found die-meme, *AS

shown iii-Figs- :5, 6-, 7,8, 9 and 10a, theehains We engage theeeev ing device's intermediate their ends, the inner runs of the chains being ooh heated through ediostebie elements 202) (Figs 2), 6; 9 and 10a) to the anchors 11 in?! "their rims being eenneoted to brackets 20a extenders roe/weirdly from the lower cross mete ea or "the elevating member 6i From the foregoing desofihtion it W111 be on served that the and outer hembers H, 15, are eonrieoted together and that the inner mem ber f4 is in connected relation with the extensible uides 2 w, whereas the intermediate member I 6 is connected three-eh the eeevme fievi'ces 2 end flexible members 20a to the elevating member. In this arrangement, the c lindrical m-onibers may be of a size to hiovlde piston areas; to whieh the pressure is applied reiatea to 'ifii'tiafl? move the inner, outer one intermediate N, [5, 16, reieti ve to themembe'f' jin immomm men the guides 2a and elevating meniher move with the members 14, I 6 and l'i. If this move ment is continued until ring 14c engages the ring l3a, the supplied pressure will be emotive to move the intermediate iii-ember II; relative to the members 1'4, I 5, which operation will raise the elevating member 6 endw'ise of and the upper ends of the extensible gu'ides 2a, by the ene'a'gementof the ring [Ba wan the I50. However, according to the e'onsti'uet herein disclosed and to provide T01" operation the load carrier tinder w ovei heafl edhdit-iehh, es hereinberoi e set forth, the efieetive siren of the member- Mb at the upper end of the inter-'- mediate member 1- 6 is g 'reel'ter than that *6! the end well He, that open the supiil -oi the mid pressure, the intermediate member is initialiy ogi'ei'at'ed i'elative to the members F4, "15. I Opera'tion m'gs. 1, *4, 5, 6, 1 1 show the cylindrical members 14, T5 and 16 in 'nofihnl position, them'e'mber H being in engagement at its upper end with the angles 5" and-the elevating member 6 being at its lower operating position: also, the system, including the new or iiqusfd spaces so, Mm; x end I -6x, ere with the liquid. If new the motor H 'i'sse't in operation and the valve meehani'sm 41a is operated by movement of the lever 12 in one direction from its mid-position to suppl fluid to and through the pi e lo, fluid Wi-Il fiow through the space he, openings 9e, openings Md and into space We. Due to "the fa-6t that the area of the WaIi We is less than the end area of the annular member IN), the ndia pressure siipijl-i'ed through opening 9e will he ieiieetive to move the intermediate or,- lindr ieal I'n'ember I6 upwttrdly relative to cylindi ioe'i members I4 and is end carry with -it the reevin-g devices 21:. 7 As the ehains are connected at their imier ends to the anchors F1 and sit-their outer ends to the elevating member ""6, such =ubwerd movement of "the ieev'ihg devices will efieot ti fai ising of the elevating member '6 end carrier 8 relative to the extensible Fglfiiles throughout the length thereof 'to "the predetermined height or level, shown in dotted Times in Fig. 4 and -f-ul1 ii'ne's in'Fi'g. "9; in raising the elevating merribenB to the predetermined "height rip level the ring lBa "engages the stop ring ISe. If the vain: mechanism "is operated by the lever l2 to its other position, the elevating member} and carrierwill gravitate and the1iqtiidwfl1fibw from passage Ilia: in the reverse direction tothe sump. By operating the valve mechanism in the manner just set forth, the elevating member may be Operated to and from selected levels (one being shown in Fig. 1) below the predetermined height or level. In carrying out these operations, the pump .Il may be continuously driven sincethe valve mechanism is arranged to by-pass the -:liquid, except when the valve mechanism is in Jpos'ition to supply liquid to the system.

In a full size truck built under my supervision and embodying the invention hereinset forth, I provided a travel distance for the elevating member 6 to the predetermined height or level of 64 inches. To raise the elevating member 6 to levels above the predetermined height or level; the valve mechanism is maintained in its first mentioned position, so that following the raising of the elevating member 6 to the predetermined height or level, the pressure supplied through openings 9e and Id is simultaneously applied to the wall Ma and annular member I 6b. As the ring Ilia is in engagement with the ring I50. the supplied pressure will be effective to move thecylindrica] members l4, l and I6 upwardly as a unit on and relative to the fluid supply member ,9; and (a) through the engagement of the inner member I 4 with the angles 5 such movement of the member M will raise the extensible guides 2a endwise of the guides 2- to the limit of their movement (see Figs. 3, 1-0 and a.) by .engagement of the ring Me with the ring I 3a on the member 9 and (b) as the elevating member 6 was initially moved to the upper ends of the extensible guides prior to raising the latter, it will be observed that the carrier 8 is raised to the uppermost level as provided for by the length of the guides. If the valve mechanism Ila. is

operated to its other position, the guides 2a,

. ble guides to the upper ends of the latter and to and from levels therebelow, whereby the load carrier may be operated where low overhead conditions, such as hereinbefore referred to, exist; in carrying out such operations the extensible guides remain stationary relative to the main guides.

Where the load carrier is to be operated at higher levels, the extensible guides are raised relative to the main guides and during such movement of the extensible guides the elevating member remains in flxed relation thereto. It will therefore be seen that the operating means are greatly simplified and through a single fluid pressurev supply and co-ordinated connections between elements of the operatin means and the elevating member and extensible guides, respectively, the load carrier is rapidly and readily controlled.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended .to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In a truck, having in combination, a pair of main guides mounted on the truck frame, a pair of extensible guides telescopically mounted on said main guides for endwise movement thereof, an elevating member slidably mounted on said extensible guides for movement endwise thereof, and a fluid pressure system, including a plurality of concentrically related fluid pressure operated, relatively movable members, the inner one of which is mounted on the truck frame, another intermediate member being operatively connected to said elevating member, for initially raising said elevating member endwise of and relative to said extensible guides to a predetermined height or level and thereafter simultaneously raising said extensible guides and elevating member to position the latter at a level above the predetermined height or level.

2. In a truck, having in combination, a pair of main guides disposed substantially vertically and mounted on the truck frame, a pair of extensible guides extending upwardly to a predetermined height or level and telescopically mounted on said main guides, an elevating member slidably mounted on said extensibl guides for movement endwise and from end to end thereof, and a fluid pressure system, including a fluid supply member mounted on the truck frame and inner, outer and intermediate cylindrical members disposed in concentric relation to each other and said supply member and fluid connections between them, the upper end of said intermediate member, outwardly of said outer cylindrical member, being operatively connected to said elevating member, and valve controlled means for supplyin fluid under pressure to said supply member, said fluid supply serving to initially raise said elevating member endwise of and relative to said extensible guides throughout their length and thereafter simultaneously raise said extensible guides and elevating member.

3. In a truck, having in combination, a, pair of main guides on the truck frame, a pair of extensible guides telescopically mounted on said main guides for movement endwise relative thereto, an elevating memberslidably mounted Y on said extensible guides for movement relative to and endwise thereof, a tubular guide member mounted on the truck frame, a fluid pressure system, includin a source of supply, a plurality of concentrically related fluid pressure operated, relatively movable members having connected fluid passages between them, the inner concentric member being slidably mounted on said tubularmember, said inner and outer members being connected together at their lower ends and said intermediate member being movable relative to said inner and outer members and extending beyond the upper end of said outer member and operatively connected to said elevating member, a fluid connection between said tubular member and the adjacent fluid passage and a fluid connection between said source of supply and said tubular member, said relatively movable members serving to initially raise said elevating member endwise of and relative to said extensible guides to a predetermined height or level and thereafter simultaneously raise said extensible guides and elevating member to position the latter at a, level above the predetermined height or level. I

4. In a truck, having in combination, a pair of main guides on the truck frame, a pair of extensible guides telescopically mounted on said main guides for endwise movement, an elevating member slidably mounted on said extensible guides for movement endwise thereof, and a fluid pressure system, including a source of supply, a plurality of concentrically related fluid pressure operated, relatively movable members, forming fluid passages between them, consisting of an innermost device having a fluid passage therein and stationarily mounted on the truck frame and inner, outer and intermediate cylinders slidable on said stationary device, the upper end of said inner cylinder being connected to said extensible guides and its lower end being connected to the lower end of said outer cylinder and said intermediate cylinder being movable relative to said inner and outer cylinders and extending upwardly beyond the upper end of the latter cylinder, operating connections between the upper end of said intermediate cylinder and said elevating member, a fluid connection leading from said source of fluid pressure supply to the lower end of the fluid passage in said device, a fluid connection between the last mentioned fluid passage and the fluid passage in said inner cylinder, 2, fluid connection between the passage in said inner cylinder and the fluid passage in said intermediate cylinder, and a valve for controlling the supply of fluid to the fluid passage in said device, said fluid supply serving to initially move said intermediate cylinder relative to said inner and outer cylinders a predetermined distance to raise said elevating member along and relative to said extensible guides and thereafter move said inner, intermediate and outer cylinders relative to said device to move said extensible guides upwardly and said elevating member therewith.

5. A truck as claimed in claim 4 wherein stops are provided on said outer and intermediate cylinders to limit the upward movement of the latter and separate stops are provided on said device and inner cylinder to limit the upward movement of said inner cylinder.

6. A truck as claimed in claim 3 wherein said operating connections between said intermediate member and said elevating member consist of a reeving element rotatably mounted on the upper end of said intermediate member and a flexible member engaging with said reeving element and anchored at its inner end on said outer member and connected at its outer end to said elevating member.

'7. In a main truck, having in combination, a guide, disposed substantially vertically, mounted on the frame of the truck, an extensible guide extending upwardly to a predetermined height or level and slidably mounted on said main guide, an elevating device slidably mounted on said extensible guide for movement upwardly and downwardly, and a fluid pressure system, including a tubular member mounted on the truck frame in parallel relation to said guides, valve controlled means for supplying fluid under pressure connected to said tubular member, relatively movable cylindrical members disposed in concentric relation, said inner member being slidably mounted on said tubular member, the side walls of said tubular member and said inner cylindrical member being formed with openings to provide for flow of the fluid from said tubular member to said inner cylindrical member and from said inner cylindrical member to said intermediate member, said intermediate cylindrical member being operatively connected to said elevating device and said inner cylindrical member bein connected to said extensible guide, said fluid supply serving to initially raise said intermediate cylindrical member relative to said inner cylindrical member a predetermined distance to move said elevating device upwardly relative to said extensible guide to the predetermined height or level and thereafter raise the other cylindrical members and extensible guide upwardly.

8. In a truck, having in combination, a pair of main guides, a pair of extensible guides mounted on said main guides for endwise movement, an elevating member slidably mounted on said extensible guides for movement endwise thereof, a fluid pressure system comprising a vertically disposed member mounted at its lower end on the truck and formed with a flow passage extending longitudinally thereof and open at its upper end, concentrically related inner, outer and intermediate cylinders, annular elements between said cylinders and between said inner cylinder and said member for providing flow passages within said cylinders and said inner cylinder having an end wall at its upper end operatively connected with said extensible guides and connected at its lower end with said outer cylinder, fluid connections between the flow passage in said member and the flow passage in said inner cylinder and between the latter passage and the flow passage in said intermediate cylinder, operating connections between the upper end of said intermediate cylinder and said elevating member arranged to raise the latter and a source of supply of fluid under pressure connected to the flow passage in said member, the annular element at the upper end of said intermediate cylinder and between it and said inner cylinder having an area greater than the area of the end wall for said inner cylinder, whereby the supplied pressure will be effective to initially move said intermediate cylinder upwardly relative to said inner and outer cylinders and said elevating member along and on said extensible guides to a predetermined level, the inter-engageable stops on the opposed walls of said outer and intermediate cylinders arranged to limit the upward movement of the latter, whereby the supplied pressure will be ef-' fective on the end wall of said inner cylinder to raise said cylinders and said extensible guides to a higher level.

MAX LEHMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,480,066 Weaver Aug. 23, 1949 2,505,009 Schroeder Apr. 5, 1950 2,518,251 Quayle Aug. 8, 1950 

